the more I am thinking of grabbing one.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/JazzBT3SB


Though I might go with the black one and paint/replace the pickguard.

Do you think wrapping a pickguard in aluminum foil then clear coating it would work?

Might have to pay super close attention to the edges, but I suppose...

I would probably purposely crinkle/tear it as well to give it a texture.

I might try to sell my Tele ( I plan to buy another one down the road. It's a nice enough tele but I would spend a good bit of cash modding it to what I want when that money could go towards a higher quality one) to help fund this. Also my tax return.

I have just started to adopt the idea of buying higher quality stuff. I don't have the tools available to mod cheaper stuff anymore, and setting this shit up all the time is a pain in the ass.

Those geetars are alright. At least they put proper bridges on them rather than the weirdo goofball ones they put on some of the other cheaper offset offerings.

As for the tin foil thing, sure. You could also use that self-adhesive heating duct tape shit. If you use tinfoil, get the heavy duty shit, it will be easier to keep flattish over the bigger surfaces. Or get the lightest duty dollar store shit you can find and let it make funky wrinkles, both would look cool. Clearcoat would work fine for a decent while. Use some sort of poly, and tons of coats.

I prefer the stripped down controls as well, because I am a simpleton.


Also I guess I should clarify that by "higher quality" I mean "guitars I have to fuck with less to do what I want."

Beside the pickguard thing, I think the only thing I would end up replacing would be the bridge bucker, but a lot of people seem to like the stock DD one. I've used DD pickups that were not terrible before, so I will wait 'til I can play one.

But it has a Fender neck, which I love, the correct JM shape and bridge, which I love, and the stripped down control scheme that I already said I love. Xavieres are fine instruments for what they are, but ultimately they are still $200 guitars manufactured and assembled for dirt cheap with less-than-stellar parts. They are totally capable of being great playing and sounding instruments, but you are going to have to invest time and possibly money into them.

I agree with that. You shouldn't need to do much to the Fender.

I am a cheap bastard though. If i wasn't going to build one for myself, i would definitely send my pennies towards the Xavier. But i would totally expect to have to fix it up if i were to try to use it live or something. I have never had a problem with the electronics in those types of shits, but the tuning pegs and nuts are pretty much a must-replace, if you want any sort of consistency/reliability from the things.

The Xavier is definitely my second choice. It is closest to the correct body shape, albeit smaller. It has the correct pickups and bridge as well, and the stripped down controls. I also like Xaviere necks, but not as much as I like Fender ones. I could slap a Fender on the Xaviere, but it leaves about (IIRC) a 1/16th of an inch gap in the pocket and at that price I almost have a Blacktop anyway.

I believe the new Xaviere's have exact Fender specs so the necks are supposed to be a better fit. YMMV

I heard something along these lines but can't confirm it.

Still, I would probably want to slap a Fender neck on there, and even snagging a used one I am not far from Blacktop territory. It also has the correct bodysize (I've played with that body before and find it super comfortable) but the Xavvy has a smaller body which could be more comfortable.

And I am becoming much less of a purist, because I like the idea of a bucker in the bridge. I find the higher output/quieter sound helps with my fuzzies.


It's a tough choice really. Ideally I can snag a a blacktop used ...

Just get the Fender and be done with it.

I can't argue this logic.

It's what you want anyway and you'd have to invest time and money to get the other one up to spec. You know this; you've said as much yourself. Sure, you'll have to save up yer ducats for a bit longer, but the difference in the end cost-wise isn't, all things considered, going to be that much.

AND, the guitar will actually be worth almost what he paid for it, to boot.

Sonuvbitch, i think my keyboard's batteries are going dead. Typed input vs. screen output is growing increasingly comical.

agreed. Xaviere's can be hit or miss as well. I know you were talking of replacing the neck, and generally that this hit or miss part of the xaviere, but you pretty much know what you're getting outta a mexifender. I like 'em for the money

1/5th of the way to buying this bad boy

aww christ, just go blow a few guys at the train station already

There aren't actually any (operating) train stations in the general area.

A train goes through Conway, but I don't think it stops. I don't blame it.

Surely there must be some sort of bar around where this would be easier to do than the train station.

Airport bathrooms would probably be the best spots around these parts.

There might be a congressman around there!